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Fabulous Riu Sal Hotels Overlooking Majestic Shores

The little island of Ilha do Sal rises timidly out of the Atlantic, with an austere landscape that reminds us we are on the same latitude as the Sahara Desert.
The ungenerous land incites us to look to the sea: the heavenly beaches that surround the island; the numerous watersports one can practise here; and the excellent fish local sailors catch every day; all bear testimony to the intimate relationship the island has with the ocean.
There are no large crowds here. Only quiet towns and a few hotels, making our Sal hotel resorts the ideal destinations in Cape Verde for anyone seeking peace and quiet.

The Premier Choice For Sal Cape Verde Hotel Accommodation
Engage in a unique island experience - with relaxing activities for the entire family – at our all-inclusive Sal Cape Verde hotels. As an unspoiled refuge away from the crowds, we welcome you to experience the genuine freedom to set your own pace in the midst of oceanfront splendor.

Recommended in Island of Sal

The best of Island of Sal

Santa María beach

Without a doubt this is the best beach on the island. Its 8km of fine golden sand are a pleasure for the senses. The transparency and intense sapphire colour of its waters never cease to amaze. And since it’s so big, the beach is never overcrowded.

If you are a windsurfing or kitesurfing enthusiast, in the two Riu hotels here (ClubHotel Riu Funana and ClubHotel Riu Garopa), you can take lessons or hire the necessary material. In just a short time Ilha do Sal has become one of the best places in the world for these sports, so you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to learn these sports with the instructors of Surf Zone school, the best on the island.
If you prefer, you can also hire a canoe and explore this long stretch of sand from one end to the other. Navigating around its peaceful waters is a pleasure you will want to repeat time and again.

The beach is also a regular point of departure for fishing and diving trips. In the Scuba Caribe school, you will be able to learn and discover the beautiful seabed around Ilha do Sal, where there is an abundance of turtles and a wide variety of colourful fish.

Salt pans of Pedra da Lume

From the top of an extinct volcano you can make out the blue, red and green tones of these beautiful salt pans. Formed by the seawater that filters through the porous volcanic rock, these extensive lagoons occupy the whole base of the crater, creating a mosaic of colour. The salt mine machinery, now abandoned, and the lunar landscape of the surrounding area, merely serve to add a little more magic to the scene.

Buracona

The action of the sea on the volcanic rock has created cavities that serve as natural swimming pools. Their crystalline waters change colour depending on the direction of the sun and make it an original, safe bathing place. The coastline is ruggedly beautiful, with a few goats challenging the wind and wandering over the basalt coastal rock.

Windsurfing

In a relatively short time Ilha do Sal has become one of the best-known destinations amongst enthusiasts of this sport. The beach of Santa Maria, and more specifically the Ponta Petra area, appears in all the lists of the best places in the world because of its constant winds and waves that can reach up to 16 feet.
Don’t worry if you aren’t an expert, you will be able to learn in the professional Surf Zone school, which collaborates with RIU hotels and has the best instructors on the island.

Kitesurfing

The beach of Santa Maria is also highly recommended for kitesurfing, a discipline that has earned many followers over recent years. In the Surf Zone school you will be able to start off in this sport, which consists of attaching oneself to a kind of surfboard and a paraglider in order to slide over the sea.

Diving

The Scuba Caribe academy, in collaboration with RIU hotels, gives diving lessons and organises trips to immersion points close to the beach of Santa Maria:

Santo Antao wreck: At a depth of 10m lie the remains of this boat, which house a wide variety of colourful species: grey triggerfish, trumpetfish, squirrelfish, giant red mullets, rays and moray eels, among others.

Farol Fundo: This large wall of coral is home to multi-coloured fish and turtles, and is a recommended diving site for both beginners and experts.

If you would like more information on the diving lessons and immersions offered by Scuba Caribe, don’t hesitate to visit their website.

Fishing

This is another activity that is clearly gaining in importance on the island. From the quay of Santa María you can set sail in search of the most highly-prized species of the region: dolphinfish, swordfish, sharks, tuna and rays, among others. If you like this kind of activity, struggling to pull one of these great fish out of the sea will be an extraordinary experience for you.

Specialities

Fish and seafood: On Isla do Sal you will find excellent fish and seafood at reasonable prices. You simply must try the exquisite grilled lobster. Tuna, octopus and ray are other species commonly found on local tables.

Cachupa: This delicious stew made using tuna or marinated pork, corn, beans, carrots, tomatoes and spices, is Cabo Verde’s most typical dish. It takes a long time to prepare, but this local delicacy is well worth a little patience.
Grogue: The locals are great lovers of this eau-de-vie made using cane sugar, coffee, mint, lime and cinnamon. Sit on a terrace facing the sea, relax and enjoy the flavour of it as you admire the beautiful sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean.